On a day that US President Donald Trump grabbed all the headlines and soundbites for his combative address at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Mark Carney slipped in some key announcements about Canada’s role in bringing peace to Israel and Palestine. Carney addressed a media conference in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the special session of the United Nations General Assembly in which he said that Canada isn’t late in recognising Palestine but it couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Responding to a question at the end of his brief address, Carney said it has been the policy of every Canadian government since 1947 to emphasise on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, but it was premised on a negotiated settlement. But with Israel deciding to annex the occupied West Bank, blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, and Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack resulting in the ongoing war in Gaza, the possibility of a negotiated settlement has rapidly eroded. Therefore, Canada had to do something fast.
Canada had on Sunday declared its endorsement of a state of Palestine, and repeated its stand at the United Nations General Assembly as well on Monday.
Responding to another question on whether Canada would send boots on the ground to enforce peace, Carney clarified that once Palestine is demilitarised in the future, an international peacekeeping force will be needed there. Canada could be part of such an initiative when the time comes, Carney said.
Carney also announced fresh funding for future peace efforts in Palestine. He said a sum of $15 million will be spent over the next five years “to strengthen economic resilience for low-income women and youth in the West Bank.” Another $10 million will be spent on “the promotion, respect for, and fulfilment of human rights and gender equality across the occupied Palestinian territory.” A further $4.5 million will be spent over three years to “help the Office of the Quartet develop an interim and long-term strategy to maintain and build dialogue between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel, to ultimately increase Palestinian economic and institutional development and empowerment.” A separate fund of $3 million will be spent to support the Palestinian Authority to carry out administrative changes, the Prime Minister announced.
Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood has angered Israel, which called the decision “unfortunate” and one that “rewards Hamas and its sympathizers.” At home, the opposition Conservative Party has also lambasted the Carney government for recognising a “Hamas state”.